Not legal advice
This guide is general information for Oregon community associations, based on the cited statutes as of the last-reviewed date. It is not legal advice — statutes change and your recorded declaration and bylaws control the specifics. Consult a licensed Oregon attorney for your situation.
Which statutes govern Oregon associations
Oregon's Planned Community Act (ORS 94.550–94.783) governs planned communities — non-condominium HOAs. It requires open board meetings, owner distribution of an annual budget, records access, and assessment lien rights. Where the declaration or bylaws conflict with the Act, the Act generally controls.
Oregon condominium associations are governed by the Oregon Condominium Act (ORS chapter 100, §§100.005–100.990), which parallels the Planned Community Act on governance, meetings, records, and collections. Oregon associations are also typically nonprofit corporations subject to the Oregon Nonprofit Corporation Act (ORS chapter 65), which provides additional member records rights and director standards of care.
Open meetings, records, and annual budgets
Under the Planned Community Act, board meetings must be open to owners with notice; executive session is limited to enumerated topics, and final decisions on items discussed in executive session must generally be made in open session (ORS 94.640). The board must adopt an annual budget and distribute it to owners.
Associations must keep their governing documents and records and make them reasonably available for examination, providing copies at cost within statutory timeframes (ORS 94.670). Condominium associations owe the same duties under ORS 100.480 — board meetings must be open to unit owners with notice and limited executive-session topics, and records must be kept and made reasonably available for examination.
Assessments, liens, and collections
Unpaid assessments become a lien on the lot under the Planned Community Act (ORS 94.709). The lien may be foreclosed in the manner of other liens on real property after the required notices. The association may also pursue a money judgment as an alternative to or in addition to lien foreclosure.
The Oregon Condominium Act provides a parallel lien: unpaid assessments constitute a lien against the unit (ORS 100.450), enforceable by foreclosure with interest and any lawful charges as provided by the declaration and statute. Both acts allow the association to recover costs of collection, including reasonable attorney's fees, as authorized by the governing documents.
Common questions about Oregon HOA law
Which law governs my Oregon HOA?
Non-condominium planned-community HOAs are governed by the Oregon Planned Community Act (ORS 94.550–94.783). Condominium associations fall under the Oregon Condominium Act (ORS chapter 100). Both operate on top of the recorded declaration and bylaws.
Are Oregon HOA board meetings open to owners?
Yes. Under ORS 94.640, board meetings must be open to owners with notice; executive session is limited to enumerated topics, and final decisions generally must be made in open session.
Do Oregon owners have a right to inspect association records?
Yes. Under ORS 94.670 (planned communities) and ORS 100.480 (condominiums), associations must make records reasonably available for examination and provide copies at cost within statutory timeframes.
How does an Oregon HOA assessment lien work?
Unpaid assessments become a lien on the lot (ORS 94.709; condos ORS 100.450), foreclosable in the manner of other real-property liens. The association may also recover costs of collection and attorney's fees as authorized by the governing documents.